Insulated car wall



Sept. 16, 1941. C. D. BoNsALl. 2,256,375

INSULA'IED GAR WALL Filed July 9, 195s 2 sheets-sheet 1 Patented Sept. 16, 1941 `.UNITED STATES FICE.

NSULATED' CAR WALL Walle Application July 9, 1938, Serial No. 218,450

13 Claims.

'This invention relates to insulated walls for refrigerator cars used to transport perishable commodities. Walls of such cars must be well insulated to prevent or retard transfer of heat therethrough and must be watertight to prevent moisture reaching the insulation and impairing the insulating eii'ciency thereof. The construction herein disclosed may beused for any wall of a refrigerator car including iioor, side walls, end walls, roof and door.

It is an object of this invention to provide a wall having metallic sheets on both sides thereof. It is a further object to provide strengthening members and insulation between the sheets and to weld the sheets together at their adjacent edges. It is important that the sheets be welded to form moisture-proof seals because insulation usually used in refrigerator cars is of a type Whose eiciency is greatly decreased when it is moist. Refrigerator car walls are subjected on the inside to moisture from the lading and refrigerant and on the outside from rain and splashing. It is, therefore, very essential that the insulation be kept dry.

Another object of the invention is to protect the insulation during construction of the wall. Insulation usually used in refrigerator cars is highly inammable and may be ignited if it is close to heat and sparks which accompany welding. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to divert such heat and sparks away from the insulation to prevent the igniting thereof.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a wall from which one sheet may be removed end replaced without removing adjoining sheets and without disturbing the insulation.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view cf a portion of a refrigerator Vcar showing my invention adapted to a floor construction.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 to 13.inclusive show modified constructions.

The parts of' a car shown in Fig. 1 are side sill 2; side sheathing 3; side post 4; side lining 5 and insulation E. A lower metallic sheet 'l .rests preferably upon the horizontal leg of the side sill angle 2. A metallic stringer 8 is secured by welding or rivets to the lower sheet 'I and is supported preferably by the side sill 2. An insulating piece 9 is mounted upon and secured to the Stringer 8. A metallic attaching piece lil and a protecting piece Il, made preferably of iibre or other rigid heat insulating material, are secured to the insulating piece 9 by the bolts l2. Two

upper sheets I 3-l 4 are welded together with a continuous seam weld I5 to provide a watertight joint. As. shown in Fig. 2, the weld i5 is used also to attach the sheets to one leg of the attaching piece IU while a series of rivet or plug welds I6 secure the sheet i4 to the other leg of the attaching'piece, l0. The lower Sheet 'l is shown formed in two sections and joined by a seam weld H on upturned flanges. The sheet l is shown secured to the Stringer 8 by` rivet welds I8. The protecting piece Il spaces the insulation 6 away from the welding by providing the air channels I9, thus protecting the insulation from igniting.

In the modication shown in Fig. 3, the attaching piece 25 has an outwardly projecting leg 26 and a depressed portion 2?. The attaching piece 25 is secured to the insulating piece 9 by the bolts 28. One of the upper sheets 29 is secured by rivets 3U to the leg 25. The rivets 3U are of a type, such as Huck rivets, which may be inserted and driven entirely from above; i. e., without touching the end of the rivet 30 which isracljacent the insulation 6. The other upper sheet 3| is secured to the sheet 29 by a continuous seamweld 32. The lower sheet 33 is secured to the'stringer 8 bythe rivets 3ft.

Fig. 4 shows a construction in which there are two attaching pieces lll-4l to which two upper sheets 422-43 are secured by rivet welds I i. The pieces tti-il are secured to the insulating piece 9 by the bolts 46. The sheets i2- 43 are secured together by the continuous seam weld lil. A

supporting member 48 supports the upper sheets adjacent the weld il and a protecting piece 5| affords protection against the heat and sparks from welding. The lower sheets 49 are secured to the Stringer 8 by the rivet welds 50.

In the construction shown in Fig. 5,V the attaching piece 55 rests in a slot and is secured to the insulating piece 9 by the bolts 5l. One of the upper sheets 58 is secured to the attaching piece 55 byV rivets (such as Huck rivets) 59, while the other upper sheet 50 is secured to the sheet 58 by a continuous seam weld 6|, the'weld being above the insulating piece 9 to prevent theinsulation 5 from igniting. The lower sheets 53 are upwardly offset 54 below the Stringer 8 and provided with depending langes which are secured by a continuous seam weld 56. This allows each lower sheet 53 to be removed without disturbing other parts of the walls and also keeps the weld v56 flush withthe lower surface. g

Fig..6 shows an angle shaped attaching piece 60 secured to the insulating piece 9 by the bolts 62. One upper sheet 63 is secured to the atV taching piece |59 by rivets (such as Huck. rivets) 64 and the other upper sheet G15 is secured to the sheet 63 by a continuous seam weld 65. A protecting piece 61 held in the clamp 68 affords protection for the insulation 6 against the heat and sparks from Welding.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7, the attaching piece 12 has the upper sheets 13-14 secured to it by rivets (such as .Huck rivets) 15. A continuous seam weld 16 joins the sheets 13-14 and a protecting piece 11 affords protection against heat and sparks from welding. The protecting piece 11 and the attaching piece 12 are secured to the insulating piece 9 by the bolts 18.

In Fig. 8 the Stringer 92 consists entirely of wood. The lower sheet 83 is secured by rivets 34 to a lower attaching means 85 which is secured by bolts B9 to the Stringer 62. An upper attaching means S1 is also secured by bolts 85 to the Stringer 82, One of the upper sheets 88 is secured to the upper attaching means 81 by rivets (such as Huck rivets) 89 and the sheet 90 is secured to the sheet 88 by a continuous-Seam Weld 9|, the weld being above the Stringer 82 to prevent heat and sparks caused by the welding from igniting the insulation 5.

In the construction shown in Fig. 9 the Stringer 95 has attached thereto lower attaching means SS to which the lower sheet 91 is riveted. Upper attaching means 98 each have secured thereto, n

preferably by rivet welds 91, an upper sheet 99. The upper sheets 99 are flanged downwardly at their adjacent edges and joined with a continuous seam weld |93. 'Ihe lower and upper attaching means 96-98 are secured to the Stringer 95 by the bolts lill.

Fig. 10 shows a construction in which the metallic Stringer |65 is spaced above the lower sheet |95 by the wooden piece |91. An attaching piece |08 and a protecting piece |09 are secured by rivets H9, to the Stringer |95. Upper sheets III-H2 are secured by rivet welds ||3 to the attaching piece |88 and secured together at their adjacent edges by a continuous seam weld ||4.

In Fig. 11 the metallic Stringer |29 is spaced above the lower sheet |2| by the wooden member |22. The Stringer |20 is provided with inwardly projecting reanges |23. An upper Sheet |24 is secured to each reflange |23 by rivets (such as Huck rivets) |25. The adjacent edges of the upper sheets |24 are downwardly offset |26 and provided with upwardly projecting flanges |21 which are joined together by a continuous seam weld |28. This arrangement provides for the weld |28 to be flush with or below the oor level of the car.

In the construction shown in Fig. 12 the metallic Stringer 8 has lower sheets |35 secured, preferably by rivet welds |36, to the bottom thereof and an insulating piece 9 secured to the top thereof. One of the upper sheets |31 is formed with a depending flange |33 which is secured to the insulating piece 9 by bolts |39 or by leg screws. The sheet |31 is oiset downwardly IM adjacent the flange |38 and the adjoining Sheet |49 nests in said onset |4| to form a Smooth upper surface. 'Ihe sheets |31|40 are joined with a continuous seam weld |42 and a protecting piece |43 is positioned between the sheet |31 and the insulating piece 9 to protect the insulating piece 9 and the insulation 6 from the heat and sparks which accompany welding.

Fig. 13 shows a modification similar in certain respects to that shown in Fig. 2. Each of the upper sheets |5|l|5| is attached, preferably by the plug welds |53-|54, to one leg of the attaching piece I9. The sheets |5D|5| are joined by the seam weld |56 disposed between the plug welds |53| 54 and the protecting piece forms, in cooperation with the sheets |50| 5|, the space |51 to protect the insulation 6 from the heat of welding.

Reference is herein made, under Rule 43, to co-pending applications of Garth G. Gilpin, Serial No. 218,464, filed July 9, 1938, and Serial No. 218,465, led July 9, 1938, in which are claimed certain constructions disclosed but not claimed by me in this application.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that Various modifications thereof, within, the scope of the claims, will occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. A wall for a refrigerator car comprising a sheet, a pair of metallic sheets in spaced relation to the rst mentioned sheet to form a space therebetween, a stiffener disposed in said space, insulation in said space adjacent said stifener, said stiffener comprising an attaching piece having spaced apart portions, means to secure each of said metallic sheets to one of said portions, said metallic sheets being welded together between said means, and a recessed protecting piece disposed between said spaced apart portions' arranged to cooperate with said metallic sheets to form a space which embraces the weld.

2. A wall for a refrigerator car comprising a sheet, a pair of metallic sheets in spaced relation to the iirst mentioned sheet to form a space therebetween, a stiffener disposed in said space, insulation in said space adjacent said stifener, said stiiener comprising an attaching piece having spaced apart portions, means to secure each of said metallic sheets to one of said portions, said metallic sheets being welded together between said means, and a recessedA protecting piece arranged to cooperate with said metallic sheets to form a space which encases said attaching piece.

3. A wall for a refrigerator car comprising a lower sheet, a Stringer above said lower sheet, insulation adjacent said Stringer, insulating means carried. by said Stringer, a groove in the upper surface of said insulating means, a pair of upper sheets welded together above said groove so that the space formed thereby protects said insulation from the heat of welding, an attaching piece having oppositely extending arms disposed within said groove and also carried by said Stringer, and means to secure each of Said upper sheets to one arm of said attaching piece.

4. A wall for a refrigerator car comprising a lower sheet, a Stringer above said lower sheet, an insulating piece mounted upon said stringenin- Sula-tion above said lower sheet `and adjacent said Stringer, a pair of upper sheets, attaching means to Secure said upper sheets to said insulating piece, said upper sheets being welded together at their adjacent edges independently of said means, and a protecting piece also secured to said insulating piece and forming a part of a wall structure which at least partially encases a space positioned adjacent the weld to prevent said insulation from being ignited by the heat of welding.

5, A wall for a refrigerator car comprising a lower sheet, a stringer above said lower sheet, insulation above said lower sheet and adjacent said stringer, a pair of upper sheets, an attaching piece secured to said Stringer, means to secure said upper sheets to said attaching piece, said upper sheets being welded together at their adjacent edges independently of said means, and a protecting piece secured to said Stringer and forming a part of a wall structure which at least partially encases a space positioned adjacent the Weld to prevent said insulation from being ignited by the heat of welding.

6. A wall for a refrigerator car comprising a sheet, a pair of metallic sheets Welded together and disposed in spaced relation to the first mentioned sheet to form a space therebetween, a stiffener disposed in said space, insulation in said space adjacent said stiffener, means independent of the welding for attaching one of said metallic sheets to said stiffener, and heat insulating means carried by said stifener and having parts spaced from portions of said metallic sheets to form walls at least partially encasing an air space positioned adjacent the weld, thereby protecting said insulation from the heat of welding.

7. A wall for a refrigerator car comprising a sheet, a pair of metallic sheets welded together andk disposed in spaced relation to the first mentioned sheet to form a space therebetween, a stiffener disposed in said space, insulation in said space adjacent said stiffener, means independent of the welding for attaching said metallic sheets to said stiffener, and heat insulating means carried by said stiffener and having parts spaced from portions of said metallic sheets to form walls at least partially encasing an air space positioned adjacent the Weld, thereby protecting said insulation from the heat of Welding.

8. A wall for a refrigerator car comprising a sheet, a pair of metallic sheets welded together and disposed in spaced relation to the first mentioned sheet to form a space therebetween, a stiener disposed in said space, insulation in said space adjacent said stiffener, means including welding independent of the first mentioned welding for attaching one of said metallic sheets to said stiener, and heat insulating means carried by said stiffener and having parts spaced from portions of said metallic sheets to form walls at least partially enclosing an air space encasing said attaching means, thereby p-rotecting said insulation from the heat of Welding.

9. A wall for a refrigerator car comprising a sheet, a pair of metallic sheets welded togetherA and disposed in spaced relation to the rst mentioned sheet to form a space therebetween, a stiffener disposed in said space, said stiffener comprising a Stringer and heat insulating means, insulation in said space adjacent said stiffener, means independent of the welding for attaching one of said metallic sheets to said Stringer, said heat insulating means having parts spaced from portions of said metallic sheets to form Walls at least partially encasing an air space positioned adjacent the Weld, thereby protecting said insulation from the heat of welding.

10. A wall for a refrigerator car comprising a sheet, a pair of metallic sheets welded together and disposed in spaced relation to the rst mentioned sheet to form a space therebetween, a stiffener disposed in said space, insulation in said space adjacent said stiiener, means independent of the Welding for attaching one of said metallic sheets to said stiiener, and means to retard flow of heat through said stiiener between said irst mentioned sheet and said metallic sheets and having parts spaced from portions of said metallic sheets to form walls at least partially encasing an air space positioned adjacent the weld, thereby protecting said insulation from the heat of Welding.

11. A Wall for a refrigerator car comprising a sheet, a pair of metallic sheets welded together and disposed in spaced relation to the rst mentioned sheet to form a space therebetween, a stiiener in said space, insulation in said space adjacent said stiiener, an attaching piece carried by said stiener and having a portion disposed to one side of the weld, means to secure one of said metallic sheets to said portion, and heat insulating means carried by said stilener and having parts spaced from portions of said metallic sheets to form Walls at least partially encasing an air space positioned adjacent the' weld, thereby protecting said insulation from the heat of welding.

l2. A wall for a refrigerator car comprising a sheet, a pair of metallic sheets welded together and disposed in spaced relation to the first mentioned sheet to form a space therebetween, a stiiener in said space, insulation in said space adjacent said stiffener, an attaching piece carried by said stiiener and having a portion disposed to one side of the weld, means to secure one of said metallic sheets to said portion, and heat insulating means positioned to retard ilow of heat through said stiiener between said first mentioned sheet and said metallic sheets and having parts spaced from portions of said metallic sheets to form walls at least partially encasing an air space positioned adjacent the weld, thereby protecting the insulation from the heat of Welding. l

13. A wall for a refrigerator car comprising a sheet, a pair of metallic sheets welded together and disposed in spaced relation` to the first mentioned sheet to form a space' therebetween, a stiiener in said space, insulation in said space adjacent said stiiener, an attaching piece carried by said stiiener and having spaced apart portions disposed on opposite sides of the weld and a central part aligned with said Weld in spaced relation thereto, means to weld said metallic sheets to said portions, and heat insulating means carried by said stiiener and having parts spaced from portions of said metallic sheets to form walls at least partially enclosing an air space encasing said attaching piece, thereby protecting said insulation from the heat of welding.

CHARLES D. BONSALL. 

